Gujarat Titans wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler says a touch of breathing room from cricket helped him reset and regain his rhythm after a difficult stretch, and his early IPL 2026 form has quickly followed through.
Key takeaways
- Buttler linked his improved touch to “a little bit of space from the game” that gave him time to reflect.
- He struggled at the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 87 runs in eight innings at 10.87 with a strike rate of 116.00.
- In IPL 2026, he started with 38 off 33 balls versus Punjab Kings and added 26 off 14 balls against Rajasthan Royals.
- He then hit 52 in GT’s last-ball win over Delhi Capitals, and finished with 60 off 37 as Gujarat claimed a second consecutive victory.
- Buttler credited GT batting coach Matthew Hayden and advice about watching the ball more closely as part of his turnaround.
- He also pointed to support at home, saying time with family helped him manage the intensity and keep distractions positive.
From World Cup struggles to IPL momentum
Buttler’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign was a tough one despite England reaching the semi-finals. He produced 87 runs across eight innings, managing an average of 10.87 and a strike rate of 116.00.
Since returning to the IPL, though, he has looked much more like himself. He opened his IPL 2026 season with a measured 38 from 33 balls against Punjab Kings, and followed that with a quicker knock of 26 off 14 deliveries versus Rajasthan Royals.
His momentum continued as he struck 52 in Gujarat Titans’ last-ball win over Delhi Capitals. Buttler then reached a milestone by compiling his 100th T20 half-century, ending the match on 60 from 37 balls as GT stretched their winning run to a second straight success.
Why the form returned: space, basics and Hayden’s nudge
In a post-match conversation with the host broadcaster, Buttler explained that stepping away from the day-to-day grind helped him clear his head. He said that having “a little bit of space from the game” gave him time to think, and that the improvement “sort of just came to me.”
He added that during the weeks while preparing, he concentrated heavily on his setup and the fundamental habits of his batting. Buttler also suggested technical problems may have slipped into his game, which in turn affected his ability to read the ball properly.
“I’ve just been focusing a lot in the weeks I’ve been here on my set-up and my basics,” he said, before stressing how good it feels to be scoring again after a lean patch. With runs drying up over the previous few months, he described the return to form as important both personally and for the team’s cause.
Buttler also lavished praise on GT batting coach Matthew Hayden. He said that Hayden’s approach is simple but effective, and that early conversations with the coach helped him identify what was going wrong.
“When he speaks, you listen,” Buttler said. He recalled that in one of the early sessions, Hayden asked him a direct question about how closely he was watching the ball, noting it didn’t seem like he was tracking it as well as he should.
Buttler felt that the advice from someone of Hayden’s calibre came in a straightforward package, which made it easier to act on. He argued that the game becomes much harder when a batter isn’t picking up the ball properly, and said he has been focusing on everything before the delivery and then backing that preparation.
He finished by referencing his experience, saying he has been playing for about 15 years and understands what to do once he gets in.
Family support amid the high-intensity schedule
Alongside technical tweaks and mental reset, Buttler pointed to having his family around during the season. He said it helps because cricket is intense and the days are busy, so it’s beneficial to have them nearby while also creating positive distractions away from the match routine.
